A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels, Volume 17 eBook

sent her boat on board with an officer, who informed
us that the ship he came from was the Squirrel, commanded
by Captain Masterton. We went on board of her,
and Captain Masterton immediately sent one of the cutters
he had with him to land us at Dover, where we arrived
that afternoon, and directly set out for Canterbury
upon post-horses; but Captain Cheap was so tired by
the time he got there, that he could proceed no farther
that night.

The next morning he still found himself so much fatigued,
that he could ride no longer; therefore it was agreed
that he and Mr Hamilton should take a post-chaise,
and that I should ride: but here an unlucky difficulty
was started, for upon sharing the little money we
had, it was found to be not sufficient to pay the
charges to London; and my proportion fell so short,
that it was, by calculation, barely enough to pay for
horses, without a farthing for eating a bit upon the
road, or even for the very turnpikes. Those I
was obliged to defraud, by riding as hard as I could
through them all, not paying the least regard to the
men, who called out to stop me. The want of refreshment
I bore as well as I could.

When I got to the Borough, I took a coach and drove
to Marlborough-street, where my friends had lived
when I left England; but when I came there, I found
the house shut up. Having been absent so many
years, and in all that time never having heard a word
from home, I knew not who was dead or who was living,
or where to go next, or even how to pay the coachman.
I recollected a linen-draper’s shop, not far
from thence, which our family had used. I therefore
drove there next, and making myself known, they paid
the coachman. I then enquired after our family,
and was told my sister had married Lord Carlisle,
and was at that time in Soho-square. I immediately
walked to the house, and knocked at the door; but the
porter not liking my figure, which was half French
half Spanish, with the addition of a large pair of
boots covered with dirt, he was going to shut the door
in my face, but I prevailed with him to let me come
in.

I need not acquaint my readers with what surprise
and joy my sister received me. She immediately
furnished me with money sufficient to appear like
the rest of my countrymen; and till that time I could
not be properly said to have finished all the extraordinary
scenes which a series of unfortunate adventures had
kept me in for the space of five years and upwards.